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United States Patent ()filice Re. 24,315 Reissued Oct. 15, 1957 MOTORIZED LOCKING lVlEANS Iverson G. Thompson III, Dallas, Tex.

Original No. 2,741,503, dated April 10, 1956, Serial No. 393,302, November 20, 1953. Application for reissue October 10, 1956, Serial No. 615,215

9 Claims. (Cl. 292-251) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to electro-mechanical locking means especially, but not exclusively for automobile and other convertible tops, and the primary object of the invention is to provide novel, practical, and efiicient locking means of this kind which, when energized, provides for automatic and secure locking of the forward header of a convertible top to the windshield frame or the like as the convertible top is operated into position, preferably by the electrical or hydraulic means presently used to operate convertible tops; and provides for unlocking of the convertible top as the convertible top is retracted toward folded position.

Another important object of the invention is to provide reliable and easy operating locking means of the character indicated above, which can be easily and readily installed with a minimum of mutilation and alteration of a convertible top and of a windshield frame, which can be substantially concealed, and which can be made in a rugged and serviceable form at relatively low cost.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration rather than limitation, a specific embodiment of the invention is set forth in detail.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a convertible automobile having a convertible top and a windshield frame equipped in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the underside of a convertible top, the underpart of its header being removed to disclose locking mechanism;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of one of the locking elements, and

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram showing control circuits for the locking elements.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated locking means involves three similar locking elements A, B and C enclosed within the header 9 of a convertible top 10, the header 9 being hollow, as shown in Figure 3, so as to define a locking element chamber 11 which is closed at its lower end and rear side by a removable plate 12, held in place by screws 13 and 14, the various locking elements being mounted on the horizontal portion 15 of the plate 12. As shown in Figure 2 the element B is located at the middle of the header 9 and the elements A and C are located at opposite ends of the header 9.

Each of the locking elements A, B and C, comprises a rectangular block or plate 16 secured, as by bolts 17, to the inner or upper side of the plate portion '15. The

block 16 is provided with a central journal hole 18 which is registered with a hole 19 provided in the plate portion 15.

In the holes 18 and 19 turns one end 21 of a sleeve 20 which has an internal bevel 21' at the end 21 and is internally threaded, as indicated at 22' as far as its other end 22. Midway between the ends 21 and 22 is an annulus 23 of worm gear teeth, one side of which bears against the inner or upper side 24 of the block 16.

The sleeve 20 is held in place by a U-shaped yoke 25 which includes a bight portion 26, opposed and spaced legs 27, 27, outwardly directed ears 28, 28 on the free ends of the legs 27, 27, and a web 29 extending between the legs 27, 27.

The web 29 bears against the side of the worm gear annulus 23 opposite the block 16 and has a journal hole 30 in which the sleeve 20 turns.

The yoke 25 is secured in place by the bolts 17, 17 which traverse the ears 28, 28, the block 16, and the portion 15 of the cover plate 12.

A limit switch 32, 32', or 32" is secured to the yoke bight portion 26 by suitable means, indicated at 33, and has a plunger 34 extending toward the end 22 of the sleeve 20.

Mounted on the upper member 35 of the windshield frame 36 and opposed to the locking elements A, B and C, are detent elements A1, B1, and C1, respectively, the said upper member 35 including a rearwardly projecting horizontal plate or bar 37 on which the detent elements are mounted.

Each of the detent elements A1, B1 and C1, which are similar in construction, comprises a cup-shaped rectangular housing 38 having a peripheral lateral flange 39 on its open upper end which is secured to the underside of the bar 37 by suitable means, such as the rivets 40.

On the web or bottom 41 of the housing 38 rests a rectangular plate or flange which is fixed on the lower end of an externally threaded stud or shank 43. The plate 42 fits the interior of the housing 38 so as to preclude rotation of the stud 43.

The stud 43 rises above the bar 37 through an opening 44 provided therein. A washer 45 which is circumposed on the stud 43 bears against the underside of the bar 37, and a helical spring 46, circumposed on the stud 43, is compressed between the washer 45 and the plate or flange 42, whereby the stud 43 is yieldably urged in an inward or downward direction, the stud 43 being otherwise free to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to the bar 37 and the housing 38.

Secured by suitable means, such as rivets 48, to the inner side of the convertible top header plate portion 15, alongside of each of the locking elements A, B and C, is an angle bracket 49 having a standard 50 through which is journalled a wormshaft 51 for the element A, and wormshafts 52 and 53 for the elements B and C, respectively.

The shaft 51 has a worm 54 engaged with the worm gear annulus of the element A and has its other end coupled, as indicated at 55 to the shaft of a small electric motor 56 which is secured by suitable means to the cover cated at 59 and 60, respectively, to the opposite ends of l arranged to be operated together so that the sleeves 20- the shaft of a second small electric motor 61 which is suitably secured to the cover plate portion 15 at a point between the elements B and C.

As indicated in Figure 7, the motors 56 and 61 are rotate as the header 9 of the convertible top 10 is moved, by suitable operating means (not shown), toward the windshield frame member 36, so that as the lower ends 21 of the sleeves engage over the studs 43, the sleeves 20 thread downwardly onto the studs 43 until the upper ends 43 of the studs 43, the studs 43 being longer than the sleeves 20, engage the plungers 34 of the limit switches 32 and deenergize the motors 56 and 61. Should there be any unevenness of engagement of sleeves 20 with studs 43, the springs 46 take up the slack and procure secure locking of the opposed locking and detent elements A, A1, B, B1, and C, C1. Reversal of the motors 56 and 61 disconnects the locking elements and the detent elements.

As shown in Figure 7, a five-pole double throw switch 63 is provided for deenergizing the meters 56 and 61 and for determining their directions of operation. The switch 63 has five contactors or switch arms 64, 65, 66, 67 and 68 which are opposed to contacts 69, 70, 71, 72 and 73 and 69', 70', 71', 72 and 73', respectively.

The motors 56 and 61 have respective field coils 74 and 75, armature coils 76 and 77, and pairs of brushes 78 and 79 and 80 and 81, connected to opposite ends or" the armature coils.

The switch arms 64 and 68 are connected by a wire 82.

The switch arms 65 and 66 are connected to power source wires 83 and 34, respectively, which are connected to a suitable electric power supply such as the battery (not shown) of the automobile. The switch arm 67 is connected by a wire 85 with the power source wire 83.

A wire 86 is connected to both of the switch contacts 73 and 73' and to a wire 87 which is connected to both motor field coils 74 and 75 at one end thereof. The remaining ends of these field coils are connected by a wire 83 to both of the switch contacts 72 and 72.

A wire 89 leads from the motor brush 78 to the switch contact 69. A wire 90 is also connected to the brush 78 and leads to the switch contact 70'. In the wire 90 are the limit switches 32' and 32". A wire 91 leads from the wire 90 to the motor brush '80 and has therein the limit switch 32. A wire 92 is connected to the wire 91 at a point between the motor brush 80 and the limit switch 32 and leads to the switch contact 71.

A wire 93 leads from the motor brush 81 to the switch contact 71', and another wire 94 leads from the motor brush 79 to the wire 93. A wire 95 connects the switch contact 70 with the wire 93.

In the positions of the switch arms shown in Figure 7, the motors 56 and 61 rotate in one direction. By moving the switch arms into engagement with the opposed switch contacts, the motors 56 and 61 rotate in the opposite direction. The limit switches 32, 32 and 32" are normally closed and are opened to deenergize the motors 56 and 61 only when the locking action takes place.

What is claimed is:

1. In a locking mechanism, a first support, a base on said support, an internally threaded sleeve journalled on the base, a second support, an externally threaded stud non-rotatably secured on said second support, said sleeve having an open end arranged to receive an end of said stud, and rotating means on said first support for rotating said sleeve so as to thread said sleeve onto said stud and secure the supports together, and means for reversing said rotating means to thread the sleeve off the stud and disconnect the supports, said rotating means comprising electric motor means operatively connected to said sleeve, and limit switch means operable by said stud and connected to said motor means for deenergizing the motor means as the sleeve is threaded home onto said stud.

2. In a locking mechanism, a first support, a base on said support, an internally threaded sleeve journalled on the base, a second support, an externally threaded stud non-.rot-atably secured on said second support, said sleeve having an open end arranged to receive an end of said stud, and rotating means on said first support for rotating said Sleeve 80 as to said sleeve onto said stud and secure the supports together, means mounting said stud on said second support for endwise movement relative to said second support, and spring means acting between said stud and said second support and yieldably retracting said stud in a direction to urge the supports together with the sleeve threaded on the stud.

3. In a locking mechanism, a first support, a base on said first support, an internally threaded sleeve journaled through said support, a worm gear fixed to and surrounding said sleeve, a worm rotatably mounted on said first support and meshed with said worm gear, means on said base precluding endwise movement of said sleeve relative to the base, a second support, an externally threaded stud non-rotatably secured to said second support, said sleeve having an open end in line with said stud and arranged to threadedly receive said stud, and rotating means connected to said worm for rotating said sleeve in one direction to thread the sleeve onto the stud and in the opposite direction to thread the sleeve off the stud.

4. In a locking mechanism, a first support, a base on said first support, an internally threaded sleeve journaled through said support, a worm gear fixed to and surround ing said sleeve, a worm rotatably mounted on said first support and meshed with said worm gear, means on said base precluding endwise movement of said sleeve relative to the base, a second support, an externally threaded stud non-rotatably secured to said second support, said sleeve having an open end in line with said stud and arranged to threadedly receive said stud, and rotating means connected to said worm for rotating said sleeve in one direction to thread the sleeve onto the stud and in the opposite direction to thread the sleeve off the stud, said sleeve having another open end, a yoke secured to said base and extending across and spaced from said other open end of the sleeve, a limit switch mounted on said yoke at the said other open end of the sleeve, a switch actuating plunger on said switch arranged to be operatively engaged by said stud as said stud is threaded through the sleeve,

' said rotating means comprising a motor having a control connection with said switch.

5. A motorized locking mechanism useful for locking and unlocking an automobile convertible top member with respect to a windshield frame member of the automobile, said mechanism comprising a first locking element carried by the convertible top member, a second l cking element carried by the windshield frame member, said locking elements being positioned so as to engage each other when said convertible top member is brought adjacent to said windshield frame member, one of said locking elements being movable with respect to the member upon which it is carried, the movable locking element being movable into locking relation with the other locking element whensaid convertible top membeer is brought adjacent to said windshield frame member, a reversible motor operatively connected to said movable locking element and carried by the member which carries said movable locking element, means connected to said motor to actuate said motor to drive said movable locking element in a forward or reverse direction to lock or unlock said locking elements, and means adjacent one of said elements and operable in response to movement of said locking elements into locking relation with each other to a e-actuate said motor.

6. A motorized locking mechanism useful for locking and unlocking an automobile convertible top member with respect to a windshield frame member of the auto mobile, said mechanism comprising a pair of threadably engageable locking elements, one of said locking elements being carried by said convertible top member and the other locking element being carried by said windshield frame member, ne of said elements being rotatably mounted on the member by which it is carried and the other element being nonrotatably secured to the member by which it is carried, a reversible electric motor operatively connected to the rotatable locking element to rotate said element in one of two directions depending upon the direction of rotation of said motor, switch means electrically connected to said motor to selectively energize said motor to rotate in one of two directions,

and l mit switch means connected electrically in circuit with said motor to de-energize said motor when said locking elements are in locked relation.

7. A motorized locking mechanism useful for locking and unlocking a convertible automobile top member with respect to a windshield frame member of the automobile, said mechanism comprising a plurality of locking assemblies each including a first locking element carried by the convertible top member and a second locking element carried by the windshield frame member, one of said locking elements being non-rotatably secured to the member upon which it is carried and the other locking element being rotatably supported by the member upon which it is carried and rotatable into and out of locking engagement with the non-rotatably secured locking element, a reversible electric motor operatively connected to each locking assembly to rotate the rotatable element of said assembly in response to rotation of said motor, an electrical switch, and electrical circuit means connecting said switch to all of said motors to enable said motors to be energized or de-energized in response to actuation of said switch.

8. A motorized locking mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said electrical circuit means includes a limit switch associated with each locking assembly connected in circuit to a e-energize the motor operatively connected to said locking assembly when the rotatable locking element of said locking assembly has moved into a predetermined locking engagement with the non-rotatably secured locking element of said locking assembly.

9. A motorized locking mechanism useful for locking and unlocking an automobile convertible top member with respect to a windshield frame member of the automobile, said mechanism comprising a plurality of locking assemblies, each assembly including a first locking element carried by the convertible top member, a second locking element carried by the windshield frame member, said locking elements being positioned to engage each other when said top member is brought adjacent said windshield member, the locking elements carried by one of said members being movable with respect thereto into and out of locking engagement with the corresponding locking elements on the other of said members, a plurality of reversible motor means mounted on said one of said members, means coupling each of said motor means to the movable locking element of an associated locking assembly to drive said element, control means for selectively actuating said motor means to drive the associated movable member in a looking or unlocking direction, and means on each of said locking assemblies for ale-actuating the motor means associated therewith when the locking elements of the assembly are in looking engagement with each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,300,298 Robinson Apr. 15, 1919 1,856,091 Dina May 3, 1932 2,394,749 Chester- Feb. 12, 1946 2,509,623 Baade May 30, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 380,044 Italy Apr. 18, 1940 870,013 France Nov. 27, 1941 

